About Putting People at the Heart of Care and Support
The purpose of the “Putting People at the Heart of Care and Support” Working Group is to bring together senior leaders and network chairs who have a passion for improving the experience of the care and support for the people and communities accessing it.
The Putting People at the Heart of Care and Support sets out its main aims as being:
- We want people to lead a fulfilling life, playing a full role in society.
- We want to acknowledge the vital role of families and friends in caring for one another, while also enabling those who provide unpaid care to a friend or loved one to be supported to achieve their own life goals.
- We want the adult social care workforce to feel recognised and have opportunities to develop their careers.
As a network our responsibilities are to:
- Discuss, identify, and deliver priority areas for the region based on what we hear from people, communities, carers and families and other national and local priority work.
- Exchange practice and share ideas about how to find collaborative solutions, mitigate risks, and share innovation in terms of how the voice of the person is captured.
- Share key areas for improvement and success with others across the region we can avoid duplication and learn together.
- Monitor our actions through a forward plan but also feedback on these to the ADASS Branch, the Assistant Director Forum, and representatives of people with lived experience at least once a quarter.
- Provide an end of year briefing for the end of year challenge event showing progress and areas for consideration for the year ahead.
- Co-ordinate regional responses when required.
- Be considerate of anti-racist practice and health inequalities.
Chairs:
Co-Chair: Stuart Mitchelmore
Assistant Director Adult Social Care
Central Bedfordshire Council
A respected figure in regional reform across the East of England, Stuart is driven by the importance of the human experience and the inclusive development of services. He is a staunch advocate for co-production, ensuring that all voices are represented when making decisions about the care people need. With an extensive career in the sector, Stuart brings the expertise and steady leadership required to chair these complex strategic discussions.
Co-Chair: Nat Clarkson
Lived Experience / Creative Strategist
Curators of Change / ONE NJC Ltd
Nat Clarkson is a specialist consultant focused on systemic reform in Adult Social Care. His work is driven by a distinct neurodivergent perspective and lived experience navigating a neurological condition. Bridging the gap between high-level strategy and the human reality at the heart of care. Nat brings a creative, multi-disciplinary approach to championing Lived Experience Leadership in the East region.
With his consultancy work and alongside Curators Of Change, together they focus on embedding authentic Lived Experience Leadership and trauma-informed practice at a strategic decision-making level.
Co-Chair: Jo Hough
Lived Experience / Carers Spokesperson
Curators of Change / Inclusion East
Jo is a prominent voice for carers across the East of England, she heads up Inclusion East, where she drives advocacy for real, systemic change. Her expertise is grounded in profound lived experience; as the mother of two disabled adults, Jo has a long history of navigating complex health and social care systems. She is dedicated to ensuring that the voices of those who cannot speak up for themselves are not only heard but act as a catalyst for service improvement.